"ROBBERS ONCE BURIED A BAG OF GOLD IN THE CAVE""ROBBERS ONCE BURIED A BAG OF GOLD IN THE CAVE"
The letter he had written to his father would reach Brussels today. His father would send some one to the cave tonight. Then he and Zelie would be free, and Tom captured.
What had Papa Pomme said? Oh, yes! The thief must go to prison!
Suddenly Tom spoke. "No," he said. "I think we shall move on. It might be dangerous to stay in that cave."
"What!" cried Philippe. "Are you afraid of the crying of crows?"
"No," replied the man, "It is not that. I prefer to spend my nights in cities."
Philippe's heart sank.
"But, sir," he said, "would you let such a chance of gaining wealth escape you? They say that the bag of gold is very large indeed!"
"Then why is it that no one has ever found it before?" asked Tom suspiciously.
"Because," answered Philippe, "there is no one with courage enough. One must be brave to spend a night in such a cold, dark place with howling birds all about. That requires courage like yours, sir!"
The man was pleased with the boy's flattery.
"Do you really think that the bag of gold is worth the trouble?" he asked.
"Worth it!" exclaimed Philippe. "Why, sir, it will make you rich!"
Now, Tom, like most wicked men, was ignorant. He had never gone to school and he could not even read. Though he was sharp and quick, he had no learning and he was not very shrewd. He believed the boy's story.
Philippe had seemed to know a great deal about the country. The lad had told many true stories. He had shown his knowledge on any number of occasions. Besides, Tom was so greedy that he could not bear to let a chance like this go by.
Of course, Tom knew that this was only a belief. But then, there had been robberseverywhere at one time, and they might easily have buried their treasure in this mysterious cave.
"Very well," he said, "we shall spend the night in the Cave of the Crows!"
It was a weird place to which Philippe led his little party. Crows, descendants of the poet and the fairy, flew all about. The noise they made was deafening.
Philippe was in a state of great excitement; and the screeching and yelling of the thousands of birds made his head whirl.
As night came, however, the crows grew quieter. The little group settled itself to rest.
The man said, "This is your doing, boy. If there is no bag of gold in the morning I shall make your head feel like a bag of gold!"
He smiled, but Philippe saw a wicked gleam in his eye.
They were all tired, and soon Tom fellasleep; but not Philippe and Zelie! The boy and girl lay awake and stared into the darkness. They listened. They waited.
Now, if only some one would come! This was their one chance to capture Tom and to free themselves. The night wore on. But no one came.
Philippe could stand it no longer. What if Papa Pomme had not received his letter?
The boy stirred slowly and sat up. Suppose morning came and no one arrived? Tom would not find a bag of gold, and he would surely beat poor Philippe for deceiving him.
No, he could not take that chance. There was only one thing to do. He must try to escape with Zelie now.
Philippe stole softly to his little friend's side.
"Quiet, quiet, Zelie! Not a sound! Come with me," he whispered.
Softly, silently they tiptoed toward the entrance of the cave.
THEY TIPTOED TOWARD THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVETHEY TIPTOED TOWARD THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE
But Philippe had forgotten one thing. He had forgotten Trompke. And Trompke was not to be forgotten! The little dog lay chained to a rock.
Tom always took care to keep him tied.Trompke was an important member of that little group.
As the boy and girl neared the door, Trompke awoke. Dogs do not sleep as soundly as people. Trompke's brow wrinkled. He cocked his puzzled head on one side. His tail began to speak.
"Where are you going, my little master?" asked Trompke's tail.
But the children were at the door. They did not hear the tail language.
So Trompke had to use his mouth. He barked. He barked again.
Philippe clutched Zelie's hand and ran out of the cave.
PHILIPPE CLUTCHED ZELIE'S HANDPHILIPPE CLUTCHED ZELIE'S HAND
But the first bark had awakened Tom. He was up like a jack rabbit. He cried out to them to stop. But they kept on running.
Tom was swift, and it was not long before he overtook them. Back to the cave hebrought them. Philippe could see that he was very angry.
"Make ready to leave," he commanded Zelie.
Morning was in the sky now. Tom stood before Philippe, and his eyes flashed. But Philippe's eyes were steady.
"You are brave, eh?" sneered Tom. "Only brave men will spend a night in the cave. Well, my hero, where is the gold?"
BACK TO THE CAVE HE BROUGHT THEMBACK TO THE CAVE HE BROUGHT THEM
Philippe answered, "I do not know, sir."
"Tricks!" roared Tom.
Then he took a stick.
Meanwhile a big touring car was drivingalong the road toward the cave. It was the car belonging to the two gentlemen who had taken Philippe to Antwerp.
When Papa Pomme had received the letter from Philippe he had immediately shown it to the gentlemen. They had been terribly worried about the boy and had tried in every way to help the poor parents.
When the two gentlemen read of Philippe's plan to capture Tom at the cave, they immediately told the police. Soon the big touring car with the two gentlemen and two policemen was on its way to the cave.
"This is the place," cried one of the officers.
The car stopped. The four men jumped out. With their guns drawn, they entered the cave.
They heard Tom laughing and saying, "Now, after I have beaten you, perhaps youwill not try any more tricks. We shall leave for other lands, where you cannot escape so easily. We shall go to France and England and then——"
Suddenly Tom stopped speaking. His jaw dropped open. The stick fell from his hands. He saw a sight that made him turn pale. For two gentlemen and two policemen stood in the door of the cave. Each policeman was pointing a pistol at Tom!
Then the Englishman and the American walked over to them.
"The plans for your trip sound very interesting," said the Englishman in French to Tom. "But I am afraid we must spoil them. There is another trip which we have planned for you, instead."
The American looked very thoughtful.
"How in the world do you say 'prison' in French?" he asked.
"The same as in English," answered his friend.
They marched outside to the car. Tom was handcuffed. He walked between two policemen. Zelie walked with Philippe. They entered the big car and started off. Tom was scowling fiercely.
The American smiled and said, "In our country the children sing this song." He sang:
"Off to prison you must go,You must go,You must go,Off to prison you must go,My fair lady!"
"Off to prison you must go,You must go,You must go,Off to prison you must go,My fair lady!"
Philippe echoed, "My fair leddy!"
Together they repeated the song, Zelie joining in. Philippe did not understand what he was singing. He did not care, for he was very happy.
The road ran along the beautiful River Meuse (mūz). Philippe watched the patient fishermen sitting on the banks. "How peaceful and quiet it is to stay at home!" he thought.
The two gentlemen have gone back to their respective countries.
Now once again Philippe and Rose sit in the market place of Brussels.
Once again the little boy sells his mother's vegetables, while the pretty baby sings to the passers-by.
There is also another child. That other is Zelie, who now lives with them. There is no more sadness in her eyes now.
But Philippe has changed. He has at last had the adventures about which he has read and dreamed so much. And he is glad that they are over.
The Belgian people say that there is noplace like home, and Philippe now agrees with them.
"IN A NOOK WITH A BOOK""IN A NOOK WITH A BOOK"
He has made up a new song. He has used the old Belgian saying, "East, west, home's best," for that song. Listen! Philippe and Rose and Zelie are singing it now:
"Winds blow,Rivers flow,Time flies and days go.Storms sweep,Shadows creep,Stars shoot and fires leap.Things sproutAll about,Folks dash in and out.Roads wind,Leave behindUs three, peace to find.Philippe willSit still;Never more seek a thrill.Zelie knows,So does Rose,Philippe would rather dozeIn a nookWith a book;Some day be a cook.All may goTo and fro,Here, there, high and low,But we restIn our nest,For east, west, home's best!"
"Winds blow,Rivers flow,Time flies and days go.Storms sweep,Shadows creep,Stars shoot and fires leap.Things sproutAll about,Folks dash in and out.Roads wind,Leave behindUs three, peace to find.Philippe willSit still;Never more seek a thrill.Zelie knows,So does Rose,Philippe would rather dozeIn a nookWith a book;Some day be a cook.All may goTo and fro,Here, there, high and low,But we restIn our nest,For east, west, home's best!"
"SOME DAY BE A COOK""SOME DAY BE A COOK"
Antwerpănt'wẽrpBrugesbrōō'jĕzBrabançonnebrȧ-bän-sōn'Brugèrebrü zhâr'Charleroishär-lĕ-roi'ChouxshōōChoux fleurshōō flûrCourtraikōōr-trĕ'Dinantdē-nän'Emileā-mēl'Emile Epinardā-mēl' ā-pē-när'GhentgĕntGrande Placegrän pläsMeusemūzMonsmônsNamurnȧ-mür'Ostendŏst-ĕnd'PommepōmPetit choux de Bruxellespĕ-tē' shōō de brük-sel'Sambresän'-brTournaitōōr-nĕ'Trompketrŏmp'-kyYvelleē-vĕl'
ENDPAPERENDPAPER
Transcriber's Notes:Some corrections are made in the text. All corrections are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.The illustrations have been relocated to better match the flow of the text.Here is a listing of the changes made in the text:The author wrote "Brabanconne" but as this causes the word to be pronounced wrongly, this was changed to "Brabançonne".Philippe was printed once as "Philipp" (p. 89, "Philipp shook his head"), and this has been corrected to "Philippe".
Some corrections are made in the text. All corrections are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.
The illustrations have been relocated to better match the flow of the text.
Here is a listing of the changes made in the text:
The author wrote "Brabanconne" but as this causes the word to be pronounced wrongly, this was changed to "Brabançonne".
Philippe was printed once as "Philipp" (p. 89, "Philipp shook his head"), and this has been corrected to "Philippe".